2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Palliative Care (MS)

Admission Requirements

Priority Deadline: March 1

DOMESTIC APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1

To apply for admission applicants must submit the following:

1. Online Application

  • Complete the Graduate Degree Application
    • Academic Interest GRAD: Masters Only, EdS Only, or with Licenses and/or Endorsements
    • Grad School: Palliative Care (MS)
    • Program: Interprofessional Palliative Care (Online)
    • Subplan for Palliative Care**: Palliative Care Fully Online

2. Required Materials

  • Personal Statement: One page outlining your career goals and reasons for studying palliative care.
  • Resume/CV: Include professional experience since earning your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
  • Three Recommendations: From professional contacts (e.g., employers, supervisors, faculty, preceptors). Personal references (e.g., family, friends, clergy, politicians) are not accepted. Recommender contact info will be entered in the application system.
  • Transcripts: While unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the application review process, official transcripts are required to matriculate into your graduate program, if admitted; the matriculation process occurs before the start of the term, so please arrange to have your official transcripts sent when prompted. Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions are required, including those where no degree was earned or transfer credits were received. Please review the Graduate School – Admissions and Application webpage for more details. 
  • Application Fee: $50 (domestic) / $75 (international)
  • Interview: Once the application is submitted, a Zoom interview will be scheduled with the applicant and two faculty or administrative members. This interview helps assess the applicant’s understanding of the profession, communication skills, and professionalism, while also allowing the applicant to ask questions. Participation in the interview is required for admission consideration.

Transcript Submission

International Applicants

  • Must submit an International Credential Evaluation Report from ECE or WES for any non-U.S. academic institutions.
  • Must meet all above requirements plus those outlined by International Admissions.

Visit International Admissions for more information.

Degree Requirements

First Year

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
PALC 6510 Palliative Care Core Concepts - Principles, & Communication 3
PALC 6110 Basic Pain Assessment & Management: IDT Care 3
 Hours6
Spring
PALC 6610 PALC 6610 PC Leadership: Part A Research Skills 1
PALC 6210 IDT Care for Symptoms: Part A 3
PALC 6220 IDT Care for Symptoms: Part B 3
 Hours7
Summer
PALC 6520 Communication Skill Refinement: IDT Collaboration 3
PALC 6620 PALC 6620 PC Leadership: Part B Palliative Care Business Skills and Evaluation 1
 Hours4
 Total Hours17

Second Year

Plan of Study Grid
Second Year
FallHours
PALC 6630 PALC 6630 PC Leadership: Part C Scholarship 1
PALC 6310 Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part A 3
PALC 6320 Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part B 3
 Hours7
Spring
PALC 6640 PALC 6640 PC Leadership: Part D Program Evaluation Skills 1
PALC 6330 Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part C 3
PALC 6120 Advanced Concepts in Pain Management 3
 Hours7
 Total Hours14

Learning Objectives

Communication Skills
The PC Community Specialist demonstrates expertise in relationship centered communication theory and skills to gather and share information, negotiate shared decision making and plans of care, and sustain relationships with palliative care patients/families and healthcare providers.

Expert Symptom Management Skills
The PC Community Specialist demonstrates expert clinical judgment in performing a comprehensive patient assessment, leading to diagnosis development, implementation, and ongoing reassessment with modification of effective, evidence-based care plans utilizing the skills and expertise of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), for all distressing symptoms experienced by patients with any serious illness.

Ethics, Advocacy, and Legal Aspects of Care
The PC Community Specialist incorporates knowledge of ethical and legal aspects of palliative care into practice by exhibiting the highest professional standards and by advocating for the rights of patients/families to access optimal palliative care.

Spiritual, Religious and Existential Aspects of Care
As part of the IDT, the PC Community Specialist demonstrates and promotes spiritually sensitive care, respecting diversity in all forms, for patients/families and other health care professionals.

Social and Cultural Aspects of Care
As part of the IDT, the PC Community Specialist demonstrates respect for diverse communities through culturally sensitive skills, recognizing how social and economic barriers and challenges impact the delivery of health care services.

Psychological Aspects of Care
As part of the IDT, the PC Community Specialist effectively addresses psychological concerns, and promotes access to expanded resources for all patients/families living with any serious illness.

Integration of Palliative Care for patients throughout the course of any serious illness in all venues
The PC Community Specialist effectively advocates to provide evidence-based palliative care for patients/families and supports and develops expanded resources for all patients/families living with any serious illness.

Effective Palliative Care Educator
The PC Community Specialist demonstrates knowledge, skills, and applies adult learning principles when providing palliative care education to patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the community.

Systems Thinking
The PC Community Specialist demonstrates understanding of the healthcare system to effectively manage and utilize resources to support patients/families living with any serious illness and advocates for the reform of healthcare systems to provide optimal palliative care.

Courses

PALC 6510 -  Palliative Care Core Concepts - Principles, & Communication  (3 Credits)  
Online and on-campus intensive (some physical presence required) on palliative care topics including: models of care, early palliative care integration, whole person assessment, meaning of illness, and demonstration of advanced communications skills. Special focus on treatment plans with simulated patients/families. Requirement: Restricted to PALC MS or certificate students
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6110 -  Basic Pain Assessment & Management: IDT Care  (3 Credits)  
This course reviews basic pain pathophysiology, assessment, non‐pharmacological interventions, and non‐opioid and opioid pharmacological pain management. Integrated with IDT topics related to pain such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6610 -  PALC 6610 PC Leadership: Part A Research Skills  (1 Credit)  
PC Leadership Research Skills focuses on core macro principles in leadership including citation in AMA or APA style and search skills for scholarly publication and dissemination. The course also includes a comprehensive, multiple-choice examination of MSPC Year 1 courses and a mid-program self-evaluation.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Typically Offered: Spring, Summer.
PALC 6210 -  IDT Care for Symptoms: Part A  (3 Credits)  
Course covers the assessment and management of eight common non‐pain symptoms (e.g. anorexia, asthenia, constipation and nausea/vomiting). Integrated with IDT topics related to symptom assessment/management such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6220 -  IDT Care for Symptoms: Part B  (3 Credits)  
This course covers the assessment and management of eight different common non‐pain symptoms (e.g. dyspnea, cough, and insomnia). Integrated with IDT topics related to symptom assessment/management such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6520 -  Communication Skill Refinement: IDT Collaboration  (3 Credits)  
Online and on-campus intensive (some physical presence require). Advanced topics in PC including refinement of advance PC skills covered Year 1 (e.g. communication) to ensure effectively application to your PC practice; demonstration of psycho‐social‐spiritual assessment integrated in treatment plans with simulated patients\families.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6620 -  PALC 6620 PC Leadership: Part B Palliative Care Business Skills and Evaluation  (1 Credit)  
PC Leadership Macro Skills focuses on core macro principles in leadership, including the national palliative care agenda and landscape. Other course topics include palliative care mission/vision/values, quality improvement, business argument/value proposition for palliative care programs, palliative care systems, education in palliative care, developing and presenting a palliative care elevator speech, palliative care billing, community engagement, and challenging situations on the systems level. The course also includes application of materials to students’ professional systems.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
PALC 6630 -  PALC 6630 PC Leadership: Part C Scholarship  (1 Credit)  
PC Leadership Scholarship focuses on core macro principles in leadership including critical analysis of literature, scholarly writing, and dissemination of scholarly writing.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
PALC 6310 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part A  (3 Credits)  
Assessment\ management of 8 chronic illnesses (cardiopulmonary, end stage liver and renal diseases) emphasis on early PC combined with disease focused therapy. Attention: prognostication and transitions into palliative/hospice care or discontinuing treatments including bioethical review and IDT support.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6320 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part B  (3 Credits)  
Assessment/management of cancer and HIV as chronic illness with emphasis on early palliative care combined with disease focused therapy. Attention to prognostication, transition into palliative/hospice care. Paired with Spiritual Care review of challenging spiritual issues, hope, miracles and rituals.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6640 -  PALC 6640 PC Leadership: Part D Program Evaluation Skills  (1 Credit)  
PC Leadership Program Evaluation Skills focuses on core macro principles in leadership including evaluating program performance based on quantitative/qualitative data collected, completing a post-program self-evaluation, and completing a MSPC program evaluation. The course also includes a comprehensive, multiple-choice examination of MSPC Year 2 courses and completion of documentation required for graduation.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
PALC 6330 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part C  (3 Credits)  
Assessment/management of neurodegenerative disorders as chronic illness with emphasis on early palliative care combined with disease focused therapy. Attention to prognostication and transitions into palliative/hospice care. Paired with bioethical review and comfort care for the imminently dying.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
PALC 6120 -  Advanced Concepts in Pain Management  (3 Credits)  
This course focuses on methadone, opioid infusions, interventional pain management, and other complex modalities. This class focuses on ethics and psychosocial issues including pain in the face of addiction and public policy around opioids and REMS.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

Please refer to the Graduate School Policies page.

Contact Us

Melissa C. Palmer, JD, LCSW, ACHP-SW, APHSW-C
Director, MSPC/IPCC
Assistant Professor
Melissa.Palmer@cuanschutz.edu

Maurice "Scotty" Scott, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Physician Lead, MSPC
Co-Director, CHPM
Maurice.Scott@cuanschutz.edu

Bailee Bannon Murray, MA
Senior Administrator of Student Affairs, Palliative Care Education Programs
Bailee.BannonMurray@cuanschutz.edu